Breakdown of Kun je de titel linksonder uitlijnen?
kunnen
can
je
you (unstressed form of jij)
de titel
the title
uitlijnen
to align
linksonder
bottom left
Questions & Answers about Kun je de titel linksonder uitlijnen?
Why is it linksonder instead of onderlinks?
In Dutch compound directions, the horizontal direction (links or rechts) always comes before the vertical direction (boven or onder). So "bottom left" becomes linksonder (literally "left-under"), and "top right" becomes rechtsboven.
Why do we use links- here instead of the adjective linker-?
Linksonder is an adverb telling us where the action happens, so it uses the adverbial base links. You only use linker when it is an adjective directly modifying a noun, for example in de linkerhoek (the left corner).
Could I put linksonder at the very end of the sentence?
No. Because this sentence uses the modal verb kun, the main verb uitlijnen must go at the very end of the sentence. The adverb of place (linksonder) naturally sits after the direct object (de titel) but before that final infinitive.
Is uitlijnen a separable verb?
Yes, it is formed from uit and lijnen. You don't see it split here because the modal verb kun pushes the entire infinitive to the end of the sentence. If you removed kun, it would split: Je lijnt de titel linksonder uit.
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